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[For Kids] Simple Papercutting Ideas
When it comes to activities using scissors, “kirie” (paper-cutting art) comes to mind.
It’s a really fun activity where you fold a sheet of paper in half, draw a line, cut along that line, and open it up to create all kinds of shapes.
It’s also perfect for kids to practice using scissors.
In this article, we’ll introduce kirie ideas for children.
We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, from vehicles and animals kids love to stars and trees you can use for events.
All of them use simple lines, so give them a try!
[For Kids] Simple Papercutting Ideas (1–10)
Heart petal
Heart motifs are cute and popular.
Among them, this chain-pattern heart petal design is especially lovely, so please try making it once.
This heart motif starts by folding an origami sheet into six equal sections.
Lightly mark the center of the paper after folding it in half into a triangle.
Next, mark the halfway point along what used to be one edge of the origami, then mark half of that, and half again.
Fold along the line that passes through the center and the three-quarters position of the halfway mark, and fold the opposite side the same way.
Once folded, draw a heart shape and cut it out to finish.
rabbit
Let’s try making a paper-cut rabbit that everyone loves.
Fold the paper in half and sketch a design while imagining a shape that will be symmetrical.
It’s also cool—and recommended—to skip the sketch and cut straight with scissors.
The exciting part is unfolding the paper to see whether it turned out like you imagined.
Once you’ve finished cutting and opened it up, it might be cute to draw the eyes or add decorations to the ears.
Try adding your own personal touches.
car
You can make cars that are popular with kids using kirie (paper cutting), too.
To create a symmetrical shape, fold a piece of origami paper in half and draw the front half or the back half of a car with a pen, then cut it out.
It’s also fun to try cutting directly with scissors without drawing a guide first; that way, no sketch lines show and the edges look clean.
Cut out the window areas as well.
It’s a bit more complex, but you could probably make a bus, too.
It might be fun to think about other symmetrical vehicles you could make by folding the paper in half.
Tree
Let’s cut origami paper to make a Christmas tree paper cutout.
Imagining and sketching half of the final shape is a great brain exercise, so I highly recommend it.
After folding the origami paper in half, draw a sketch of half the tree shape on it.
Keep in mind that the trunk will be twice as thick when you unfold it, so that’s the key point when drawing.
Simply drawing and unfolding will already make it look like a tree, but adding decorations after unfolding will make it even more festive.
If you do your pencil sketch on the white side of the origami paper, the surface will turn out neater.
clover
The four-leaf clover is said to be a symbol of good luck.
You can easily make one by folding and cutting just three times.
You can create various sizes, from large to small, and use them in many ways—stick them on walls or decorate photo frames.
Fold a sheet of origami paper in half, then fold it in half again.
Now it’s one quarter of the original size.
With the folded edge at the center, fold it diagonally.
Next, draw a teardrop shape with a pen and cut it out.
Open it up and you’re done.
The creases even look like the veins of clover leaves, don’t they?
butterfly
Butterfly-shaped origami is also very handy to know how to make.
All you need is origami paper, scissors, and a pen or pencil.
First, fold the origami paper in half and draw half of a butterfly shape on it.
It’s good to include the antennae and two wings.
Imagining what it will look like when you unfold it is a nice workout for your brain.
Once you’ve drawn it, cut along the lines with scissors.
Be careful not to tear the antennae, as they are thin.
Open the folded edge, and in no time you’ll have a butterfly paper cutout.
rhinoceros beetle
When it comes to popular summer insects, rhinoceros beetles definitely come to mind.
Their shape is complex, so you might think they’d be hard to make, but once you learn the steps, it’s actually very easy—give it a try.
First, prepare origami paper in brown or black and fold it in half.
After folding, on the folded edge side, sketch the beetle starting from its horn.
Be careful not to draw it too thick, because it will end up twice as thick when you unfold it.
Next, since beetles have six legs, draw three of them (half) on this side.
It’s best to draw the first two legs pointing upward and the last one pointing downward.